Speech-Language Pathology
Preprofessional Studies
Communication and compassion.
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are healthcare professionals who assess and treat individuals with communication or swallowing disorders. As a pre-SLP student, you’ll be focusing on the foundational courses that will prepare you for a career to treat these disorders. In the future, you may work with children who are born with autism or Down syndrome, adults who have had a stroke or are afflicted with dementia, and patients with aphasia who need to find ways to communicate.
The details
What you need to know.
A career as a SLP begins requires the following:
- Undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders
- Graduate degree accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (a doctoral degree is not required)
- Postgraduate fellowship (commonly takes 36 weeks depending on your state)
- Passing the Educational Testing Service Praxis exam for speech-language pathologists
- Application for required state license
In recent years the demand for licensed SLPs has continued to grow steadily, due, in part, to an aging population and advancements in medical technology.
Workplace Environment
- Clinics
- Hospitals
- Public schools
- Nursing homes
- Research facilities
- Private practices
Pre-speech-language pathology (pre-SLP) students are primarily students who are working toward a bachelor of science degree in communication science and disorders with the intent to earn a master of arts degree, master of science degree, master of education degree, or other graduate degree in speech-language pathology from a professional school accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. Pre-SLP students at Purdue Fort Wayne benefit from a low student-to-faculty ratio in their department, which allows faculty to get to know students individually, in a one-on-one advising partnership. In addition, this low ratio makes it possible for each pre-SLP student to have more opportunities to be engaged in faculty research and community-service projects. This can prove to be an asset when they apply to graduate programs.
A career as a SLP begins requires the following:
- Undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders
- Graduate degree accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (a doctoral degree is not required)
- Postgraduate fellowship (commonly takes 36 weeks depending on your state)
- Passing the Educational Testing Service Praxis exam for speech-language pathologists
- Application for required state license
In recent years the demand for licensed SLPs has continued to grow steadily, due, in part, to an aging population and advancements in medical technology.
Workplace Environment
- Clinics
- Hospitals
- Public schools
- Nursing homes
- Research facilities
- Private practices
Pre-speech-language pathology (pre-SLP) students are primarily students who are working toward a bachelor of science degree in communication science and disorders with the intent to earn a master of arts degree, master of science degree, master of education degree, or other graduate degree in speech-language pathology from a professional school accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. Pre-SLP students at Purdue Fort Wayne benefit from a low student-to-faculty ratio in their department, which allows faculty to get to know students individually, in a one-on-one advising partnership. In addition, this low ratio makes it possible for each pre-SLP student to have more opportunities to be engaged in faculty research and community-service projects. This can prove to be an asset when they apply to graduate programs.
Requirements and Recommendations
What to expect from your preprofessional studies.
The following list includes some of the most common prerequisites for many of the speech-language pathology programs in the US:
- Biology
- Physical sciences
- Statistics
- Behavior sciences
- Social sciences
A bachelor of science in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) will fulfill these common requirements and provide a solid foundation in the field.
As a pre-SLP student at Purdue Fort Wayne, you’ll have access to numerous undergraduate clinical experiences while working on a bachelor of science in communication sciences and disorders. This includes the following opportunities:
- Job-shadowing a licensed SLP
- Complete a semester-long clinical practicum in the on-campus Communication Disorders Clinic
- Work with children and young adults who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems
Applying to Graduate or Professional School
Prepare for the next step.
Pre-SLP students who are exploring options for their graduate program should select a program accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. To be ready to apply to graduate school, you should do the following:
- Research graduate schools as early as your sophomore year
- Attend departmental workshops for help selecting a professional program and navigating the application process
- Prepare for and take the Graduate Record Examination
- Obtain letters of recommendation
Contact Us
Have questions?
Contact Chris Grindrod, clinical professor of communication sciences and disorders, at [email protected] or 260-481-6455.